Have you even noticed that people seem semi-hypnotized when they watch movies? Maybe this is the criteria for qualifying a "great" film (*g*)? Here's my list of great films that have hypnotized me the most. I hope you like my list and I also hope it provokes you to send me YOUR top 10 (or top 100) version of the Greatest Films - Send Your List To Me Baby!.
Papillion - A true life story of a man who escaped from the infamous former
prison in French Guiana known as "Devil's Island". This is an awesome film about a man who refused to quit or be
broken. This film should have won Academy Awards for best picture, best actor (Steve McQueen), and best supporting
actor (Dustin Hoffman).
The Outlaw Josey Wales - Awesome film. Clint Eastwood at his best, Chief Dan George is great too. IMO, the dialogue between Josey and Ten Bears is one of the great scenes in Hollywood history.
The Pink Panther Strikes Again - Being half French, I love
anything that pokes fun at the French culture, however, these films are funny any way you look at them. Clouseau for President!
Peter Sellers (Clouseau), Herbert Lom (Chief Inspector Dreyfuss), and Herbert Kwok (Kato) were absolutely great.
Although I love Peter Sellers as an actor, it could be argued that Herbert Lom "stole the show".
Hombre - An obscure Paul Newman western. The message is powerful.
Dr. Zhivago - A sweeping, beautiful film. The cinematography is outstanding.
Monty Python's "Holy Grail" - You'll laugh until you hurt. Just about
every scene in this film is outrageously hilarious. My fav scenes are Sir Lancelot at the Swamp Castle, the killer bunny,
and the cave of AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH.
The Princess Bride - I love the constant one liners in this film. Very diverse yet humorous at the same time. Ironic parallels between this film and my life.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - A hilarious, must see film. One of the signs of a great film is never growing weary of repetivie viewings. I've seen this film many, many times and I derive the same viewing pleasure every time I watch it. Danny Kaye was a great comedian/entertainer.
Pleasantville - This film really shook me - only great films can do that. Pleasantville is novel, powerful and filled with both suttle and overt symbolism - it tackles all the big issues (morals, sex, ethics, religion, racism, etc.) without offending while simultaneously provoking one to thought.
Ben Hur - There are many cool scenes in this film especially the Chariot race and the naval battle scene!
Lost Horizons - An outstanding old film about Shangra La found, Shangra La lost, and Shangra La regained.
The Matrix - Wow! What an incredible assault on the senses and the mind!
The Shawshank Redemption - Tim Robbins & Morgan Freeman are great actors. This film has no weaknesses, however, due to the setting of Shawshank Redemption (prison life) it is not for the easily offended.
Cool Runnings - This is a very funny, heart-warming film with great casting. The story is great, lots of laughs along the way. Cool Runnings may be the ultimate "feel good" film.
A tie! Roger & Me and The Big One - No political system is perfect, but these two Michael Moore films show the blatant hypocrisy and idiotic tendencies of Capitalism. Both films are revealing, honest, eloquent, thought provoking, and filled with the unique Michael Moore style. Run for president, Michael, run for president.
The Sound of Music - I love to watch this film with my wife. It's a great "cuddle" film. Based on a true story. This film has something special about it but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Dark Passage - IMO, this is the best Bogey and Bacall film. The entire cast, the acting, and the plot are great. A incredible film noir drama.
X (Malcolm X) - Denzel Washington does a great job portraying Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a great, courageous man. X is a very underrated film.
A tie! Key Largo and To Have and Have Not - There is something really special about the Bogey & Bacall films. Their films emanate a special chemistry. Few films have this.
North By Northwest - This Cary Grant classic will keep you on the edge of your seat. North By Northwest is a great cliffhanger.
Take The Money and Run - Woody Allen is a bit
too self preoccupied at times and I don't know about that thing with his "daughter", however, most of his films are too, too funny. I think this one is his best one. I love his sarcastic, high handed, cerebral comments.
The Kentucky Fried Movie - This film is definitely not for kids or those that are
easily offended. That being said, I watched this with my father - we both laughed so hard we turned purple.
Banannas & Love and Death - Both of these films are hilarious, offbeat Woody Allen films.
Most Abbott & Costello films especially "Who Done It?".
The Return of the Pink Panther - Peter Sellers was a comic genius and the Inspector Clouseau character was absolutely hilarious. Of course, Chief Inspector Dreyfus and Kato are great too.
Treasure of the Sierra Madre - This film is full of twists and turns. Bogey was great as a bad guy. Many, many great scenes can be found in this film.
The Maltese Falcon - Put your thinking caps on, this is one of the most complex films I've seen. I've wathched the Maltese Falcon three times and I still haven't caught on to all of the suttle details.
Yet another tie! Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade - Action, action, action. Arguably, these two films are the two greatest cliffhanger adventure movies ever made.
Saul Zantez's "Lord of the Rings" animated feature -Too bad this ended at the half
way point of the book series. Considering this films was made circa the mid '70's, the graphics are great. The animated version of "The Hobbit" really sucked.
The Seven Samurai - This is the best foreign film I've seen so far. Thoroughly entertaining. Great acting. The Magnificent Seven was based on this film.
Casablanca - This film stars three of my favorite actors Peter Lorre, Bogey, and talented, rotund Sidney Greenstreet. This film has really grown on me.
M - Another great foreign film. Peter Lorre was the original creep as well as being the greatest character actor. He shines in his acting debut.
Just about any James Bond film especially "The Spy Who Loved Me".
The Fugitive - The one with Harrison Ford, of course. I'm a sucker for a great chase film, and this film maintains a great chase sequence throughout.
Dead Man Walking - Based on a true story, this film got me to thinking about things outside of movies. Susan Sarandon is my favorite actress. Sean Penn is great too.
Most Danny Kaye films - "The Court Jester", "Wonder Man", "The Inspector General", and "A Song Is Born" are all great.
Stormy Weather - Check out the Nicolas Brothers dance sequence at the end of the film, without question they were the greatest dancers in Hollywood.
Gandhi - Gandhi was a great man with a great soul. Those that have a 20 minute TV sitcom attention span will not appreciate this film. Gandhi is a theme film, it is not meant to be a roller coaster ride full of riveting action. You have to use your mind while viewing this film, however, if you understand a little bit about history, Gandhi, and his impact on the world, you will appreciate this film. Ben Kingsley does a great job of acting in his role as Gandhi.
Schindler's List - Another tour de force. Not for the squeamish. Based on the true story of Oscar Schindler. It's encouraging that one person can make a difference. The end of the film is powerful and poignant.
Amistad - WOW! What a tour de force. The entire cast does a first rate job. In a sense, I see this film as commentary on human tradgedy vs. human responsibility.
Rocky - Yo! The ultimate underdog film. Who says Stallone can't act.
It's A Wonderful Life - Hmmm? Maybe everyone's life does count. My wife has corrupted me. I used to dislike this film, now I watch it with her every Xmas.
Dangerous Minds - An outstanding film. Too bad most inner city high school teachers aren't like this.
Braveheart - Based on a true story, this a sweeping, adventurous film.
Rambo:First Blood - This is a surprisingly good film.
Lorenzo's Oil - Based on a true story, this film is a powerful, gut wrenching drama. Yet another testament about what a human being can accomplish when he/she set their mind to it. Lorenzo's Oil should have won multiple academy awards.
Forrest Gump - "Ruuuunnnn Forrest ruuuunnnnn!" This films is very unique.
Rain Man - Dustin Hoffman does a great job of acting the autistic savant part.
The Mission - This film powerfully portrays the value (and suffering) of love.
The Natural - A great feel good film coupled with a stellar cast.
Dances With Wolves - OK, so Kevin Costner isn't the greatest actor, however, he overachieved in this film and Dances With Wolves portrays Indians in a much needed positive light.
The Truman Show - Mix Logan's Run, The Garden of Eden, and the '60's British TV show The Prisoner and what do you get? Ta Dah! The Truman Show. Jim Carey is outstanding in this non-comedic role. This picture should have won Academy Awards for best movie and best actor (Jim Carey).
Patch Adams - A true life story about how the Health System really should operate (no pun intended).
The Tin Star - The Tin Star offers a great lesson about people not wanting to get involved. Very much a underrated, obscure, sleeper film.
Rambo:II - Park your brain at the door, enjoy the action type of film.
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea - Great imaginative entertainment, yet lots of suttle undercurrents (no pun intended).
Kenneth Clark's documentary about Lewis & Clark - Kenneth Clark's documentaries are always first class, excellent productions, IMO, this was his best one so far.
Liar, Liar - Jim Carey's best comedy to date. This film is absolutely hilarious.
Frankenstein - Boris Karloff did a great job of acting as the Monster.
The Man Without A Face - Mel Gibson is a great actor and the fact the story of this film is outstanding doesn't hurt either.
Mutiny on the Bounty - Charles Laughton was a great character actor. He hit full stride here as the most despicable version of Captain Bligh. This film is dated in spots, however, if one can overlook this, it's greatness is still apparent.
Seven Years in Tibet - I was surprised that Brad Pitt could actually act. This was a good film. Boy, China really did a number to Tibet, huh?
The Hurricane - A very old obscure film, but it's fantastic! Considering this was made circa the 1930's the Hurricane special effects aren't bad. Also has a great chase theme.
Hoop Dreams - Yet another film stiffed by the Academy Awards. Honest, stark portrayal of two different young men stuggling to make it in life & basketball.
The Four Musketeers - A humourous, unique slant to the Musketeers. Very cool.
Cool Hand Luke - Paul Newman shines as an incarcerated former war hero gone rebel, noncoformist. The ending is harsh. Lots of cool scenes in this film.
Various John Wayne films (too many to list) - "Red River", "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", and the "The Sons of Katie Elder" are among his best. I also like "Cahill", "The Shootist", "True Grit", "Rooster Cogburn", "3 Godfathers", "North To Alaska", and "Big Jake".
Frantic - The one with Harrison Ford, of course.
Jackie Chan films - So far, all of his films that I have seen have been very entertaining.
Bugsy Malone - A absolutely hilarious film, it's a great satire of gangster films using an all kid cast.
The Magnificent Seven An all-star cast Western.
The Dirty Dozen - An all-star cast, a very good film.
The Great Escape - Another all-star cast film which happens to be a great movie.
The Adventures of Robin Hood - The one with Errol Flynn. Although this film was made in the '30's, it holds up quite well. A great adventure film.
Disney's animated version of Alice In Wonderland - Weird, strange, and fun, no wonder I like this so much.
A Bug's Life - Disney may have outdone themselves with this one. Very, very good.
Rashomon - Another great foreign film, it's about rape from several points of view. Parts of Rashomon give me the creeps. Thought provoking, eerie, and novel.
The Last of the Dogmen - Obscure, cool film. Modern setting, time warp, Indians, what more could you ask for?
The Rescuers Down Under - Another one of my favorite Disney animated feature.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Clint Eastwood's best Spaghetti Western.
The Count of Monte Cristo - Richard Chamberlain was at his best in films set during the Renaissance or Middle Ages. Good film shot on locations specified in the book.
Les Miserables - Many versions have been made of this film, I'm thinking of the one with John Gielgud as the priest.
The Sting - Many twists and turns as well as a sense of nostalgia are to be found in this film.
Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid - Another great Newman & Redford film. A cool chase film, humor, adventure, etc. this film has it all.
Grease - My wife continues to corrupt my taste in films (*g*). I used to hate this film, now I like it. It's a great movie to "cuddle" to. I didn't realize John Travolta was so multi-talented until I saw this film.
Good Will Hunting - I could really relate to this film. I'm a Janitor, I'm a good student, I'm a Counseling major, I have somewhat of a similar past to Will Hunting (minus the violence & incarceration), and up to this point, I'm somewhat of an underachiever.
Awakenings - Robin Williams can act. Based on a true story, this film is touching and powerful.
Dead Poet's Society - Same comments as above entry.
Arsenic and Old Lace - Dark comedy at it's best.
Die Hard - Action, action, action.
Singing In The Rain - Donald O' Connor "stole the show" with the "Make 'em laugh" scene.
City Lights - Charlie Chaplin was the original comic genius. I was surprised about the feel good aspect of this film. Great film, surprising poignancy.
Just about anything by Laurel & Hardy - I guess I'm a throwback to the "old days", I love Laurel and Hardy. Among their best works are "Way Out West", "Blockheads", "The Music Box", and "Me and My Pal".
Another tie! That's Entertainment I & II - Entertaining reviews of the great MGM musicals and films.
Blazing Saddles - What can I say Mel Brooks is great. This one was probably his best.
Bringing Up Baby - A very entertaining, fast paced madcap classic comedy.
Mary Poppins - OK, I'll admit it, I like this film, got a problem with that? The "I love to laugh" scene is great.
Various Mel Brooks films especially Life Stinks, Spaceballs, and The Silent Movie.
Tommy Boy - If you don't laugh at this film, you are either dead or you have no sense of humor. Too bad Chris Farley's life was cut short.
The Aristocats - Yet another great Disney animated feature.
Yours, Mine, and Ours - Based on a true life story of a family with 19 kids! And you thought
you had it hard.
Mousehunt - This is the "sleeper" film on the list. Ironically, the day after my wife & I watched this film, we spent two days chasing a mouse in our place (unlike the film we got him). The "auction" scene is absolutely hilarious.
Another tie! Nunsense & Nunsense 2 - Very funny.
Most Three Stooges short films especially with "Curly".
Bullitt - The car chase scene alone makes this film great.
The Inn Of The Seventh Happiness - Unique story about a missionary in China.
To Catch A Thief - A cool blend of action and mystery.
Various Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly films (too many to list).
Disney's Swiss Family Robinson - Entertaining Disney family film.
Batman - A dark, surreal, cool film. The Cinematography was outstanding.
Terminator 2 - A bit creepy, however, it kept me on the edge of my seat. Interesting attempt at social/moral/ethical commentary under all the action
Kelly's Heroes - A different twist to a war picture.
Good Morning Vietnam - Another good "different twist" war film.
Monty Python At The Hollywood Bowl - Hilarious, requires some mature viewing.
Dennis The Menace - A cute humorous film.
Enter The Dragon - The measuring stick for all Martial Arts films.
Circle of Iron - A very odd but cool Martial Arts film.
The Misfits - An interesting film about 2 escpaed convicts forced to work with one another in order to attain freedom.
Somewhere In Time - I fell madly in love with Jane Seymour when I saw this film. Schwing!
Wayne's World 2 - I laughed my head off, reminded me of my former "stoner" days.
City Slickers - Find that "one thing" will ya.
Amadeus - Damn, was Mozart really that weird.
Witness - I normally don't like murder mystery films, however, this one was outstanding.
The Killing Fields - A revealing film about the harshness of reality under the Khmer Rouge.
The Elephant Man - Based on the true life story of the shocking but very human Elephant Man.
A.D. - A noble attempt to blend Biblical stories and Roman Epics.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - What do you expect, I'm a Counseling Major.
The Longest Day - Epic WW II picture.
The Naked Spur - A entertaining, riveting James Stewart Western.
A tie! The Godfather I & II - A sweeping, rough, entertaining account of the harsh realities of the Mafia.
There are many "great" films that I have heard about, but I have not seen them. Examples would be: Shine; L.A. Confidential; American History X; She's So Lovely; Clerks; A Soldiers Life; Boyz 'n The Hood; Diggstown; Secrets & Lies; Go; A Simple Plan; The Hustler; The English Patient; Jerry Maguire; People vs. Larry Flynt; 8 1/2; Midnight Cowboy; The 39 Steps; Double Indemnity; Waking Ned Devine; The Remains of the Day; Rebel w/out a Cause; Giant; La Vita e bella; Rear Window; The Ox-Bow Incident; Knock On Wood; Sling Blade; The Color Purple; Vertigo; 12 Angry Men; Goodbye Mr. Chips; Hamlet; Lil' Abner; Fargo; Heimat; The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari; The Third Man; The Quiet Man; The 400 Blows; Wings of Desire; There's Something About Mary; The Apu Trilogy; Where Is My Friends Home?; Wag The Dog; The
Seventh Seal; The Secret of Roan Inish; Jules and Jim; Two or Three Things I Know About Her; Tell The Truth and Run; Nanook of the North; Greed; Metropolis; The Passion of Joan of Arc; The Golden Age; The Rules of the Game; The General; The Birth of a Nation; Henry V; The Magnificent Ambersons;
The Bicycle Thief; The Gold Rush; Giant; Get Shorty; Contact; Dumb and Dumber; This Is Spinal Tap; A Room With A View; Back To The Future series; The Usual Suspects; Speed; The Piano; The Hunt For Red October; Being There; The Trouble with Harry; Never Cry Wolf; The Adventures of Yellow Dog; Rosencratz and
Guldenstern Are Dead; Unforgiven; The Game; In The Name of the Father; In Search of Bobby Fischer; The Fisher King; and J'Accuse.
I am sure some of these films (once I have watched them) would make my list.
